The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-21
AMATEUR BALL PLAYERS
Noted Professionals Who Once Played
on the Commons About Indianapolis.
The Fine Playing of the Westerns Seventeen
Years Ago-The Promising Young Players
in the City's Amateur Clubs.


managers of professional clubs. More offers
have come to young players in this city than
one could think possible until he begins inquiry
on that special matter. Indianapolis, since the
first year base ball began its history the ma"
tional pastime has contributed a number OF
good pitchers and felders to the various pro-
fessional Mines Seventeen years ago
the Westerners had distinction
beyond local limits. Calvin McVey was
one of them, and left the club TO join the
old Cincinnati Red Stockings Harry Dean also
went to that team from the Westerns They
were succeeded by a team including Aqullia "
Jones, Thomas Barbour player named mop
kinson Joseph Sharpe, Edward Porter, Al. Fat
ton, Frank and Ed Ketcham Nearly every man
of the nine had played with his college TEAM
and so proficient they became that they made a
very successful Eastern tour Aqullla Jones
pitched a straight ball. He can do nothing Win
the curves and drops that make the modern
pitcher a valuable But his Skill was
such as to bring an offer from Harry wright
who then managing the Red stockings
When Wright took charge of the Boston League
club he wanted Ed Ketcham for the season OF
1874 and it is supposed the young man played a
short time with the club under an assumed
name At this period there another anna
teur of importance, Henry Ward Beecher
Smith. He caught for the Chicaeos in 1876.
From the Indianapolis amateurs of the past
came Ramsey and Kerins, of the Louisvilles;
Andrews, of Philadelphias Sowders and
veach. of the Northwestern League.
But the supply is undiminshed
and on the commons any Sunday be seen
ball-paying that gives promise OF more than one
player perhaps being found in professional teams
next season. While none of the clubs have
gained the prominence OF the old Westerns there
are several that could play good ball with any
team IN the minor leagues. One of the first
mines of Importance is that playing under the
name of Grand Avenue. year or two ago the
team wanted to make public appearance,
and, as no name had oeen settled
themselves tho Virginia Avenues. as all of them
lived on that thoroughfare. To economize in
advertising they got some posters of the Grand
Avenues. of st. Louis. and since then they have
been known as the Grand Avenues of lndianapo-
lis. Charles Stewart is a good FIRST baseman for
them and also helps increase the by
his excellent running Ed Bright is the catcher
and does fine work, Ed Donovan is good
eral player and Robert Meek is excellent
amateur short stop.
In the Athletic association are Will Coburn,
Charles Campbell, A. r. Edmunds, Charles
Tarlton, Edward Bingham and Oliver Carter.
The latter is pitcher of worth. In
eral games recently he struck out sixteen men.
Coburn. good third baseman, played with the
Yale College nine this season. Edmunds and
Bingham are good felders, Will L. Pfaff. Fred
Adams and Stoughton SPOTS are said to be ex-
cellent players. Pfaff and Adams are rated
among the best of the young pitchers.
Once in while Louis Newberger, of the In
dianapolis club directory, takes part in the ath-
letic games. He is quite up to the needs of the
first base, but wants to be considered pitcher.
Some said the other day that game could
be vile not to interest Newberger. Two
years ago young 10 an came to him with
quest to play first base Cor the Butler University
nine that had been challenged by the Plainfeld
club. Newberger complained of pressing bust
ness engagements but at last yielded. When
Plainfeld he found that only one
of the University nine among
the players, aud il was he who got
tne1awyer's consent to play first base How
ever. Newberger was in for it. and the chance
of playing bali overcame the chagrin at the de-
ception practiced on him. At Plainfield the
pitcher and catcher of the Indianapolis players
said they would not go in without being paid.
Nobody but Newberger had any money and he
paid for the battery This settled, the nine
about to go into the field when a couple of base
refused to play without remuneration.
Newberger paid them. In the first inning the
Plainheids made sixteen hits off the Indianap-
oils pitcher, and Newberger took his place for
the rest of the game, which resulted in the de-
feat of the Indianapolis amateurs
The Shamrocks Is organization that has
kept together for several years The club does
some very good playing Then there the
Easterns, Great Easterns. Lone Stars, Mutuals.
and MarooDs, all of which have about equal
standing. With exceptions these mines
not tho same for any two or three games. 1t is
hard to keep up an organization, but it Is no
skill. One of the best clubs is that
known the Neversweats. Its players
adopted the name of Resolutes, but the
four years since the nine went out to Bright
wood to play the railroad men.
The latter got no runs except what
stood q to Z. wag who saw the game said:
Yes. they beat EN-. and never sweat i'll doing
Krkhof, who does fine work at first base.
Frank, his brother, who is equally good in the
field, and behind the bat; Charley,
ond base; Henry ssurm. catcher. and William
his brother, third baseman Herbert Spellman.
second baseman; Charles Sehering. shortstop;
Herbert Lavelle first baseman and catcher,
and Amos Rusie, left fielder and pitcher. The
positions named those in which they excel,
but of course. the fielding list is made out to
suit emergencies. The Neversweats have been
together for five years and all live within four
squares the South Side. Henry and William
Sturm also play with the Athletics
city league, but the trouble lies in getting the
mines to keep up their organization Last wear
a series of games was arranged but only half the
schedule was played, the Shamrocks leading
Every Sunday the Mutuals, Maroons, Great
Easterns and some other clubs put into pool
twentyf FIVE fifty cents for each player which
the winning club takes.
The Dean rothers' nine has battery that is
considered exceptionally strong. Vance pitches
and Doremus catches for him. There is also
nine at Lilly's chemical works that does fine work
at times. Hal Ridgeley. George Lilly and Ralph
Pomeroy good batters. Pomeroy plays
well on third base, while Ridgeley and Lilly are |
skilfull as the battery, and play excellently
in the field.
The Sowders family is known for its ball play |
ers OF the seven brothers there is not one of |
them who Is not efficient. VIM. Sowders is in |
the Northwestern League. The Indianapolis |
club offered $500 for him. Lenoard is the old |
est OF the brothers and John, the third brother,
was tried by the Indianapolis club
Attne insane Hospital nine of The employees |
OF that institution plays for the patients Its |
battery, conway and Cresineer, is said TO rank
with the best OF the amateurs. The tailors of
meridian street also have nine and good
battery. Butterworth and Stultz
Most OF the amateur games played Satur-
dav evening and Sunday afternoon on the COM
mons IN the East End but in any part of the
for contest of amateurs any time.